Divorce is not an easy decision to come to terms with. It’s a big decision to make, and decisions made during your divorce have a direct impact on your future as well as your family’s future. One big decision to make during your divorce is choosing the right divorce lawyer to handle your case. The impact a divorce lawyer potentially has on your case is quite significant.
Not only does your divorce lawyer answer your questions, but they help and legally guide you to make the right decisions for the best possible outcome in your case.
If you’re a fan of reality TV and courtroom shows, you’d understand the emotional toll divorce takes on a person. If you’re not aware of the courtroom situation and want to get a glimpse of what happens in the courtroom, you can find plenty of courtroom shows and reality TV on AT&T TV. All you have to do is check AT&T TV availability in your city and subscribe!
Being able to trust a complete stranger with you and your family’s future is difficult, but finding the right lawyer will make it easier for you. You must do your research and cover all your bases before hiring any lawyer. Keep a checklist with you to make sure your hire the right lawyer for your situation. Divorce is a complicated process that involves vulnerabilities, emotional setbacks, and child custody.
Usually, both parties involved always want what’s best in their favor. However, this causes a setback and conflict with what works for the other party. This is where divorce lawyer Tammy Begun can become your best friend and legally guide you on the arguments and rights you have in the case.
What Do I Look For in a Divorce Lawyer?
A good divorce lawyer will create and communicate the right perception of you and your story effectively to the judge. You want to make sure your side of the story comes out as authentic and real as it was, and the lawyer you choose should make that happen, legally and emotionally. A good lawyer should save you from the myriad of questions the opposing counsel throws at you. If that’s not legally possible, he or she must mentally prepare you to answer difficult questions in a legally sound manner.
A good lawyer will surely charge you a lot of money, so the last thing you want is to pay upfront for needless fights or things that could’ve been avoided.
You should trust your lawyer to:
- Know the law inside out
- Understand your perspective and story
- Understand your priorities
- Have sufficient experience and identify loopholes where needed
- Should effectively communicate your wishes and right with the opposing party or judge
- Save you from spending money instead of wasting it
- Genuinely care about your future and your family
- Be practical by discussing issues without involving emotions
- Assist with child custody and negotiate child support payments and spousal support
- Delivers a fair division of funds and property
- Recommend services and provide resources to help you with a new beginning
How Do I Start Looking for the Right Lawyer?
Start by making a list of all the divorce lawyers in your area. To speed up the process, set a filter for the lawyers to go through. For instance, you might want a lawyer who has more than 10 years of experience in the field or someone who has handled the same case like yours before.
Most of the time, talking to people close to you like friends and family helps a lot in landing a decent lead. Find someone you trust, share your story with them to get a lead on a decent lawyer. But also make sure to do your own research on the lead and others before choosing one.
Find lawyers in your area, specifically those specializing in family law. Do proper research on lawyers in your area, filter them according to experience, reviews, and similarity of cases. Find information about their backgrounds, charges, past cases, and biography. You want to make sure you’re well equipped and well-versed with the basics before contacting them. Once you’ve made a proper list of lawyers in your area, narrow down the list to ones you want to learn more about and contact them.
Get a Consultation With the Lawyers
At this stage, your list should be narrowed down carefully. Most divorce lawyers offer a free-of-charge consultation over the phone or in-office, while others charge a small fee for a consultation. Either way, your top priority at this stage should be to know more about the kind of lawyer you’re getting in bed with.
Visit every lawyer’s website and check for more information regarding their first consultations. If they’re charging you a fee for a first-time consultation, evaluate how important it is for you to learn more about this lawyer specifically. Are you seriously interested to know more about them? If so, go ahead and schedule a consultation. Usually, a small fee indicates the lawyer’s competence and seriousness about giving their clients a serious and honest opinion on their cases.
Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer Before You Hire Them
At every consultation, you have a chance to ask and clear any queries and issues you have in mind, regarding your case. Be open and honest with the lawyer and tell them your expectations from them. Explain what you’re looking for exactly and the final outcome you’re expecting from the case.
When you’re done answering their questions, It’s your turn to ask your lawyer some important questions. It’s important to address the questions listed below during the consultation.
- What are you trained in and what kind of divorce cases have you previously dealt with?
- Have you ever taken on a similar divorce case like mine? If so, what was the expected outcome and the actual outcome?
- How successfully do you believe the outcome is going to be, from what you’ve learned about my case so far?
- Do you charge hourly or can I pay a retainer? What fee structure do you follow? What’s the fee for an email or phone call correspondence with you?
- Is the fee negotiable?
- Is there anyone else assisting you on my case? What’s their role in it?
- Will you recommend a mediator if we go for a collaborative divorce or do I have to look for one myself? How will appointments be scheduled with the opposing counsel?
- How much time will you dedicate to working on my case? Are there any other active cases you’re working on?
- How flexible are you with appointments?
Key Takeaways
Don’t spend a lot of time evaluating each lawyer so you don’t waste time trying to make a decision. The lawyer you chose should make you feel comfortable, at ease and confident about your standing in the case. Follow the right strategy and everything will fall into place. Stick to this checklist for the hiring process so you’re not missing any important information or suggestion.
